The journey home on that cold night ended in the warmth of snuggling and lighthearted banter.
On a new day, the winter sun, cold and bright, slanted through the classroom's frost-kissed windowpanes.
The morning's comprehensive science exam had just ended, but the atmosphere lingered in the air.
The door to the exam hall was pushed open, and a mixture of cold outdoor air and the scent of ink from the test papers billowed out.
Shen Yuan and Zhou Shaojie walked out of the classroom, their steps light. They completely ignored the other students around them still engrossed in checking answers or agonizing over the questions, heading straight for Class 15.
Inside the Class 15 classroom, Li Zhi was at her desk, one hand propping up her chin, the other twirling a pen.
The pen danced nimbly between her slender fingers while she stared out the window, looking utterly bored.
Soon enough, however, Li Zhi heard a familiar commotion.
